what should i do to not get STAGE FRIGHT????

Question

ok so in my school im doing this huge school play and i am one of the leads. i'm really scared of all those ppl. im usually not scared when im just with the teacher or just my friends or just like a few classmates. but then now my drama teacher chose me to be a lead. i never actually wanted to do drama. i just wanted to do it cuz my friends wanted to do it. so then i do it and then i find out that the teachers didn't put them into drama so then i am all alone:( meaning none of my friends are in the same class as me. and the people in the drama class..i barely even know anyone!! they are all basically complete strangers!!! so my question is ...what do i do when i have stage fright???? or if i freak out right in front of everyone?? i really don't wanna make a fool of my self!! so does anyone have tips or tricks or anythingg???? please answerr!!!!!!!!! thankss!!!!!=D

Answer 1

Are you talking yourself into a bad case of stage fright, or have you had it before?

If you've had it before, then write down--for yourself--all of the symptoms you get. Then look at them. Are they primarily physical (shaking, cramps, sweating, breaking out in hives) or mental (feeling foggy headed, blurred vision) or emotional (serious fear of failure)?

If emotional, then the best cure is to practice until you can do the part in your sleep. More experience helps, except you can't just go out and get some tomorrow. Positive self-talk is good; don't let yourself think "omigod what if I screw up", instead think about how you feel if someone else screws up--chances are you feel bad for them, you want them to pull together and get it done, and you're happy when they do.

If mental, you need psychological relaxation exercises. There are "mind trip" tapes and cds out there that will guide you through those sorts of things. The best one is to take a little time each day to imagine you are all alone in a place where you feel perfectly safe and relaxed--imagine the place in as much detail as you can, visualize not only the look of the place but also include sounds, smells, and tactile sensations. It makes you more relaxed in general, and also this: if you're on stage and you start to feel nervous, you can close your eyes just for a second and imagine your safe place--and in just that second, it can calm you down.

If it's physical, you need deep muscle relaxation techniques. Do full-body stretching daily. Allow yourself to yawn (the vocal "o" is the most tense part of the body in the USA). If you find one part of your body starting to show symptoms (shaking, trembling, weakness, knots, sweats) then tighten and relax the muscle groups at that spot--don't tie them in knots, just flex the muscles so that they're really firm and then let them release. That burns off the excess adrenaline and releases lactic acid and gets the muscles into a state of readiness.

Answer 2

Know your part, know your cast, and have fun!
The better you know your part, the less likely you'll be to forget any lines or anything like that.
As you get to know your cast, and as they become your friends, they'll know how to respond if something does happen. Improvisation is a key point in acting, 'cuz let's face it, things don't always happen how they're supposed to. (Although they usually do happen how they should, so don't be too alarmed by my last sentence.)
And most importantly, the more fun you have, the more you'll entertain the audience. It's easy to tell if somebody's playing a part they don't like or if they're not having fun on stage. That should also be why you're there...you shouldn't really be doing it if it's not something you genuinely enjoy.

Just a side note. If you made it through auditions and landed a lead, I honestly don't think you'll have any issues with stage fright. It sounds like you're more scared of stage fright itself than you are of actually getting up on stage and performing.

Answer 3

i've got been in exactly one play, a number of years in the past, and definite I have been given point fright - it wasn't even a speaking function! i substitute into thoroughly superb with it each of ways by using rehearsals up till beginning night, then bam. I have been given over it after some days yet when I definitely think of if i might had lines i might have long gone completely sparkling. fairly did no longer assume being so apprehensive approximately it! i've got been casually asked if i choose for to take part in some thing later this 365 days yet using fact it might contain a speaking function i will could provide it some extreme concept! i'm instructed that's in user-friendly terms a be counted of prepare.

Answer 4

I study theatre in University and I've been in Community Theatre all throughout high school. Stage fright for me NEVER has gone away. A lot of performers will tell you that. It is completely normal. Many performers go through it on a daily basis. I've talked to counselors, tried breathing excercises, and tons of other remedies. Nothing has worked for me, not saying that those things won't benefit you though. I just use all of that nervous energy and adrenaline to my advantage and use it to really nail my part.

Don't worry about making a fool out of yourself. In school I've learned that's what actors must not be afraid of-Making a fool out of yourself. That what you must do. MAKE A FOOL OUT OF YOURSELF. Throw the pride out of the door and don't be afraid to make a mistake, we all do. You just have to keep it going.

I wish I could tell you about a miracle remedy, but I can't. However I do know how you feel, because I suffer the same thing during EVERY performance, my voice trembles and I sometimes stutter and forget lines. Just be yourself, and don't be afraid to make a fool out of yourself. I've even done a scene where I had to run across the stage naked. I don't care. You just have to develop and work on that "I DON't CARE" attitude, and put it in your head that it's okay to make a fool out of yourself.

Good luck with that! Just let the nerves go and remember to MAKE A FOOL OUT OF YOURSELF. It really helps. After all you a playing a character and not yourself anyways.

Answer 5

We all know what stage fright is, and I don't know of anyone who has never gotten it sometime in their life. I our worked in radio and TV for more than 30 years, and I can tell you this about stage fright. Even now, if I have to get up and speak in front of a group of people in a live audience, I get nervous--something that never happened when I was looking into a camera or sitting in front of a microphone.

Many of the top entertainers in the world say they've gotten stage fright too, so don't feel as if stage fright only happens to you. Famous people who are known to have suffered from serious stage fright include Barbra Streisand, Donny Osmond, Kim Basinger, and even Sir Laurence Olivier.

Stage fright symptoms are probably caused by adrenalin (a.k.a. epinephrine), which is a hormone commonly associated with fear. When the brain perceives danger or a stressful situation arises, adrenalin starts pumping, and anxiety increases.

Symptoms of stage fright include:

* A general feeling of anxiety before, or during, the beginning of a speech or presentation.
* Cold hands, sweating hands, or shaky hands.
* Dry mouth.
* Fast pulse.
* Nausea.
* Rapid Breathing
* Shaky knees.
* Tight throat.
* Trembling lips.

Stage fright, and the symptoms that go with it, lessen as you become more accustomed to speaking in front of groups of any size, but even veteran public speakers agree it never goes away completely. So if you're going to enjoy any success making a presentation you have to learn to control stage fright to some degree.

To the best of our knowledge, no one has ever died as a result of stage fright. But you can find plenty of surveys that say most people would rather die than give a speech. If that sounds like you, follow some of the advice and strategies below.

1) Comfort yourself in the knowledge that even veteran speakers get stage fright. If it happens of Barbra Streisand and Kim Basinger, what do the rest of us have to be ashamed of?

2) Understand that a little stage fright is actually good. It gets your adrenalin going--and that will help you keep your energy level up. That's a good thing.

3) Build your confidence with rehearsals. If you practice, practice and practice some more, you'll eventually feel so comfortable with your material that you won't stress out about the possibility of embarrassing yourself.

4) Visualize success. See yourself doing well. Imagine audience members applauding and coming up to you afterward to pat you on the back and shake your hand.

5) Don't visualize failure. Avoid dwelling on any bad speaking experiences you've had in the past. And don't think about disasters suffered by people you know.

6) Remember some important basics. Be well rested and relaxed, arrive early, check out any audio visual equipment well in advance,

You can't always eliminate stage fright and nervousness all together, and as I pointed out in Tip Number 2, you probably don't want to. But you don't want it to paralyze you either.

Follow the steps above and you find that going on stage is no longer something to fear.

Answer 6

first of all, try to make friends with the people who are the other leads! when i did my plays i barely knew the other leads but now we're like brothers and sisters. just have fun with them and it will make your onstage chemistry a lot better. trust me, you will grow to know them all as you work on the show.

as for your stage fright, know that the people there in the audience are to be entertained, and you are there to entertain them. don't feel self-conscious or that they will judge you if you mess up. practice and work hard, and look at it all as a learning experience. i assume by what you said that you're in school, so learn as much as you can and have fun. break a leg!

Answer 7

First, meet everyone there so you are comfortable with them. Second, When you are onstage don't worry about what other people will think just worry about what you are doing and how you are doing it. When I have stage fright I tend to do better then I would if I didn't have it. Good Luck!

Answer 8

get in character and stay in character -- your character does not have stage fright.

Answer 9

I look out into the audience and pretend that they are all naked.